The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-03
MAINE PEDAGOGICAL SOCIETY.
Closing Session of the Meeting at
Brunswick.
Resolutions Adopted, Officers Elected
and Other Business Transacted.
[Special to the Press. !

BRUNSWICK, Jan. 1.-The closing session
of the Maine Pedagogical Society was held
here this morning. P rayer was offered by
Rev. Mr. McIntire OF Kent's Hill, after
which, in very happy manner, Prof. Henry
L. Chapman of Bowdoin College presented
the compliments of the New Year to the
Society.
Miss Anna c. Smith of the Lewiston High
School read an interesting paper on "Profes-
sional Reading" which was discussed by
Superintendent W. w. Stetson of Auburn.
Owing to the absence of Mr.. Sargent of
Hebron, the discussion of Mr. Parker's
paper, delivered yesterday afternoon, was
omitted.
State Superintendent Luce then presented
some points in our school system upon which
legislation is needed. He said that provision
should be made for free text books and that
the length of time children employed in fac
tories are required to attend school should
be increased from twelve to twenty-four or
twenty-five weeks in the year. Mr.. Luce also
recommended the abolition !of the district
system. He said that under it, small districts
were placed at disadvantage as compared
with the larger and could not give as long
terms as their larger neighbors.
The question was discussed by Messrs.
Richardson of FTyeburg and E. C. Carrigan
of Boston. Mr.. Richardson called attention
to the habit of school agents to employ their
| friends and relatives as teachers.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
The committee on resolutions presented
the following report which was accepted:
Whereas the employment of teachers during
efficiency and good behavior has met with the APP
| proval of school officers and the public where
ever practiced and whereas to advance the status
| highest professional training and make the
| teachers calling life work.
Resolved, That this society hereby approves of
the principle of continued engagements for teach
ers to the end that the uninterrupted service of
faithful and efficient teachers may be secured to
our public schools.
In view of the necessity of education to the per-
petuity of free institutions and of the Inability of
some OF the States and Territories to sustain an
efllcient common school system without govern
Inent aid.
Resolved, That this society cordially approves
OF oflegislation which shall provide for the appro-
| priation of money from the Treasury of the
United States, to be distributed to the States and
Territories on the basis of illiteracy, to the end
that the number of 6,00O,0 GOO and more illiterate
may be reduced to minimum.
| Whereas, the so-called district system is fast
coming into dsfavor, it being injurious TO the wei
fare OF the schools by the tendency to hire cheap
| teachers, to make frequent changes, to promote
fayOrSism rather than to follow rules of a correct
civil Service to fail in furnishing suitable build
| ings and apparatus and in giving an equal
amount OF schooling; also as it is hindrance tC
| proper classification.
| Resolved, That the Society demand legis lation
| to abolish the district system.
| Whereas, the State is what the people make it,
and the children living within its borders are it:
| wards, and
Whereas, there is now throughout the State a
growing dissatisfaction with the present laws up
| on child labor and compulsory school attendance
| Resolved, that the Society ask for Legislation
making more efficient and compulsory attendance
laws,
| pupils free, the town giving them and loaninG
thelr use, IS growing yearly INTO public favor
Resolved, that this Society recommends and
urges further legislation to secure by town action
| the adoption of free text books.
Resolutions fixing the time to be allotted
to speakers at the meetings of the Society
and extending thanks to the people of
Brunswick, the railroads and hotels, to those
who had read papers and delivered address
es and to the Faculty and officers of Bow
doin College, were included in the report.
OTHER BUSINESS.
Mr.. Stetson and others presented petitions
asking the Legislature to change the time o.
compulsory education from twelve to twen-
ty-four weeks. The petitions were referred
to the committee on instruction to be pre-
sented to the Legislature.
AT the request of the president, Mr.. Chas
Fish of Brunswick, was elected secretary o
the committee on instruction.
1t was voted to accept as members thos,
whose names had beed presented by the ad
visory board.
The committee on nominations reporte,
the following list of officers. who were elect
ed for the ensuing year:
President-G. B. Fisher, Augusta.
| Niee-president-E w. Hail. Waterviile.
Secretary and Treasurer-H. nj. Estabrooke
| GOrham.
Members of Executive Committe-G. A. Phir
ney Pennington; Miss Helen W. Fuller.
Member of Advisory Board-L. G. Jordan
Lewiston.
Editor of journal of Education-w. ]. Corthel
Gorham.
Mr. Luce presented proposal to amen,
the first four sections of Article w. of tn
constitution so that all teachers, graduate
of colleges and normal schools and graduate
of seminaries, academies and high school
having diploma showing course of stud
of at least three years, (such scholars hay
ing had onelyeaa's successful experience i